Celeb endorsements have lost some of their power in the social media era, but what makes bloggers, vloggers, and self-styled fashionistas so effective as spokespeople? Canvas8 talked to Alexander Schouten, assistant professor at Tilburg University, about how influencers convince people to buy.

The internet has created a new kind of expert, one who draws knowledge from search engines and social media rather than years of investigation and practice. Yet the opinions of the modern connoisseur are not to be taken lightly. How are they signalling their status and influencing everyday habits?

The BBC has launched a Tor-based version of its website to let people read news stories in countries with state-censored media. With people looking for trusted information sources, media companies can empower communities by offering access to voices of authority and expertise.

While Americans used to look to doctors and nurses for the final word on medical matters, that’s not always the case nowadays. Influenced by social media gurus and aided by digital tracking tools, the ‘worried well’ are taking a proactive approach to health that minimizes input from professionals.